Western Australia's youth unemployment rates have dropped from 16.2 per cent to just 11.8 per cent, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

The figures from April showed that WA's youth unemployment rate was the lowest Australia-wide and well below the national average of 22.5 per cent.

WA offered more employment opportunities than other states, such as Victoria, with a rate of 26 per cent, and South Australia, with a whopping 29 per cent of unemployed youths.

The WA Minister for Commerce, Simon O'Brien, said: "The strength of the WA figures relevant to the rest of the nation is proof that Western Australia is the best place to be if you are looking for a job."

The drop in youth unemployment has come after the State Government announced it would create more jobs for Western Australians and increase the local content.

In February, Mr O'Brien announced that the WA state resources sector had awarded over $14 billion worth of contracts to local companies, which could see thousands of Western Australians with jobs.

“In July last year I launched the Government’s new Local Industry Participation Framework, which sent a clear message to project proponents that local content is a high priority.

“Since then, 63 WA-based companies have been awarded major contracts to work on the lucrative resource projects under way in the state.

“For example, the recent $600 million FMG contract awarded to RCR Tomlinson will result in 500 to 600 jobs. Similarly, Clough’s new Wheatstone contract will result in 300 new positions," Mr O'Brien said.

According to a ministerial media release, the recent drop in youth unemployment in WA could be accredited to the recent State Government Industry Facilitation and Support Program (IFSP) that offers a dollar-for-dollar financial assistance of up to $25,000 to small and medium sized enterprises that provide major resource projects.

“Since the introduction of IFSP, there has been a steady stream of applications with funding requests for a range of purposes, including marketing activities to increase exposure in local, national and international supply chains; accreditation; software and training to improve business processes; and equipment to increase capability.

For information on how to find jobs in WA, visit Jobs WA
Or for jobs in WA's mining boom, check out West Jobs